[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 19]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR131.2]

[Page 368]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 131--WATER QUALITY STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart A--General Provisions
 
Sec. 131.2  Purpose.

    A water quality standard defines the water quality goals of a water 
body, or portion thereof, by designating the use or uses to be made of 
the water and by setting criteria necessary to protect the uses. States 
adopt water quality standards to protect public health or welfare, 
enhance the quality of water and serve the purposes of the Clean Water 
Act (the Act). ``Serve the purposes of the Act'' (as defined in sections 
101(a)(2) and 303(c) of the Act) means that water quality standards 
should, wherever attainable, provide water quality for the protection 
and propagation of fish, shellfish and wildlife and for recreation in 
and on the water and take into consideration their use and value of 
public water supplies, propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife, 
recreation in and on the water, and agricultural, industrial, and other 
purposes including navigation.

Such standards serve the dual purposes of establishing the water quality 
goals for a specific water body and serve as the regulatory basis for 
the establishment of water-quality-based treatment controls and 
strategies beyond the technology-based levels of treatment required by 
sections 301(b) and 306 of the Act.